Djokovic Beats Berdych and Reaches Third Straight Dubai Championship Finals
February 25, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Novak Djokovic defeated Tomas Berdych at the Dubai Championships, as Berdych was forced to retire with a leg injury while trailing 6-7 (5), 6-2, 4-2. This will be Djokovic’s third consecutive trip to the finals of the Dubai Championship, an event he has already won twice. Djokovic dropped the first set after committing a series of unforced errors, while Berdych’s strong serve produced eight aces. Djokovic found his game in the second set and Berdych began to show signs of the leg injury. Djokovic awaits the winner of the Roger Federer-Richard Gasquet match to determine his finals opponent.
“We know each other really well. We know each other’s game," said Djokovic after the match. "Mostly in last three or four years, we had matches in semis or finals. It’s always high stakes and a big challenge.”
